The Semmes Heritage Park
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Maintenance of roads 1800's

7/7/2020

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The Mobile County Act No. 153 divided Mobile  county into three revenue and road districts in 1888-89. These districts were then divided into precincts. The second district precincts were as follows:
  • Precinct 7- Albritton Precinct
  • Precinct 1-Citronelle Precinct
  • Precinct 2-Mount Vernon Precinct
  • Precinct 5-Creola Precinct
  • Precinct 6- Mauvilla & Chunchula Precinct
  • Precinct 8- Carver’s Precinct
  • Precinct 20-Steeley’s Store Precinct
 
County roads and bridge were maintenance from one point to another with different individuals responsible for each section.  These individuals were paid by the county and lived close to the section they were responsible for.  Work was completed by hand and horse- drawn equipment.
 
  • Bond of Eli Moffett to keep a public toll bridge over Dog River (1844 Probate record) Historical File 15 pg. 180
  • Payment to Ferdinand E. Cooper - for work on Moffett Road from Wheelers Ville to Big Creek (1844) Historical File 4 pg. 672
  • Benjamin Howell was a overseer of the roads from Little Creek to Wheelers Ville File 4 pg. 610 (no date/late 1800’s)
  • Wm Bakes- Wheelers Ville to Big Creek
  • ED Bullvilz- Spring Hill to Wheelers Ville
  • Jackson Rester from Big Creek to County Line
  • Merons Williams- from Little Creek to County Line
  • Appointed to  Beat No 2-Edward Lewis, Senineon Wheeler, James Goff
 
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Tidbits of History

6/11/2020

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  • Early settler’s names were used to identify roads and places. To name a few, Wulff Rd., McCrary Rd., Snow Rd., Howells Ferry Rd. (there was a ferry to cross Big Creek), Moffett Rd., Lott Rd., Allentown are some of the pioneer family names.
  • Wulff Rd was named for Jim Wulff who had come from Denmark in 1864 and died in 1933.  Tom Dodd, Jr. said “Jim was very active in church and could quickly settle down an argument when needed. The community sat up the entire night at the Wulff home for his wake."
  • Howells Ferry Road is named for the Benjamin Howell Family and the ferry that was used to cross Big Creek.  According to Helen Waltman Caldwell the great- great granddaughter of Benjamin Howell, in 1605 three Howell brothers came from England to Long Island carrying gold bullion. Benjamin Frank Howell came to Albritton Precinct before you could homestead and purchased land for 50 cents an acre.
  • Before there were towns it was necessary to establish designated places in order to conduct the business of the government, census counting, voting, and mail delivery. Census records indicate that before the town of Semmes was established it was a community in the Albritton Precinct.
  • Pauline Dodd, the first historian of Semmes, reported that her grandfather received his mail at the 15 mile post on Moffett Rd (AL42) which became US. Hwy 98. In 1789 Congress was given the power to establish Post offices and post roads.  A line of posts was set up along a designated road that became a post road. Dependable deputies on horseback were appointed to carry  the mail which was deposited at different mile posts.
  • The McCrary family was an early pioneer family that settled in the Albritton Precinct. They had a “stopover house” which was defined as a place to rest on ones journey. People traveling to and from Mississippi and Mobile would stop at the McCrary’s home.
  • According to Helen Waltman Caldwell, the great, great granddaughter of Benjamin Howell there was a trail that the Indians used to go to Mobile down to the sea once a year to harvest salt. The trail  ran beside Allentown Cemetery. The salty water was boiled until all the water had evaporated and all that was left was salt.  Pots were borrowed from the early settlers near the trail with the agreement to return the pots and a portion of salt.  Helen said the salt looked brown and dirty.  On the way back from one of these trips, one old Indian took sick and died.  He is the first person that was buried in Allentown Cemetery.
  • Benjamin Howell believed in education for all his children.  His children boarded in Mobile and graduated from High School at Barton Academy.  His son, Thomas Jefferson Howell gave the land to build the 1902 Semmes School. It is interesting to note that when Thomas gave the land to build a school and church the deed specifies that a school should always remain on the property or the property would revert back to the Howell Family.​
  • Eight men from Illinois hearing of the wonderful riches in Alabama, looking to make a fortune quickly, formed the Semmes Land Company.  They came to Albritton Precinct, purchasing land fifteen miles northwest of Mobile and laid out the town of Semmes in November 1900. They named the town Semmes after Admiral Raphael Semmes.
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Education in Semmes today!

5/18/2020

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Schools  are a reflection of the growth of the population of Semmes and its surrounding areas.  
Schools in Semmes today  with  attendance are listed below:
  • Mary G. Montgomery High School /MGM High School -2,096 Students
  • Semmes Middle School-1,500 students
  • Semmes Elementary-569 students
  • Allentown Elementary-825 students
Elementary Schools not in Semmes that attend Semmes Middle School and MGM High School : 
  • J E. Turner Elementary- 510 students
  • Wilmer Elementary-614 students

MGM offers Academies of study and training in the following special fields:
  • Academy of Biomedical Sciences-Signature Academy
  • Academy of Agricultural and Mechanical Science
  • Academy of Business Leadership
  • Academy of Engineering  and Computer Science
  • Academy  of Liberal and Fine Arts
  •  Academy of Faulkner Career Technical Center  
 
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          MGM Electric Car and Robotics Displayed  at Semmes Heritage Day!

 Video-Mary Montgomery High School is Well Known is on the  Mary G. Montgomery High School  website.  

  Semmes Heritage Park videos are on Semmes Heritage Park Vimeo  

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ALabama Commendation  award

4/30/2020

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​GREAT NEWS!
April 22, 2020  
Semmes Heritage Park is pleased to announce that Semmes Heritage Day has been honored by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission with an Alabama Bicentennial Legacy [award/commendation].
The honor recognizes outstanding projects by communities and organizations that were part of the commemoration of the statehood anniversary. Semmes Heritage is a celebration of Semmes History, remembering our past as we look to the future.
“Communities invested time and resources in an amazing range of projects,” noted Alabama Bicentennial Commission chairman Sen. Arthur Orr. “Our successful bicentennial celebration owes a real debt to their efforts, especially for projects that will be important to the state, its communities and its citizens for a long time to come.”
Awards were given in two categories: commendations for outstanding bicentennial programs and projects and legacy awards for projects of exceptional and lasting impact. Forty-one commendations and 21 legacy awards were given, representing more than 40 municipalities in 35 counties.
Projects ranged from celebration events to city murals to preservation and restoration of sites and structures. Many projects were locally focused while some were regional or even statewide. Many are especially notable for their long-term relevance and impact.
The awards represented every region of the state and ranged from small towns to major metros, including Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville.
Each winning project will receive a bronze plaque noting the name of the project and its award. The plaques will be a public reminder of the achievements of Alabama communities during the bicentennial commemoration.
For more information on the plaque and plans for a dedication in the fall contact Jeanette Byrd, jlbyrd_3@att.net. For more information about the Alabama Bicentennial Legacy Awards and the bicentennial commemoration, visit www.ALABAMA200.org or call 334-242-4537.


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Semmes Heritage Park First                            Schoolmarm

4/24/2020

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​Mildred Wiggins was a native of Semmes. Her parents were Henry Hiram Pollard and Lena Van Christopher who were married in 1918 and settled in Semmes in 1918.   Mildred had six sisters and six brothers.  Most of the descendants of the Pollard family still live in Semmes today.

Mildred taught at Semmes School  until her retirement, was a founding  member of Alumni & Friends of Semmes School, Inc. and the first schoolmarm after the restoration of the little schoolhouse.  She prepared lessons for students and served in this position until her death on December 3, 2003.   
The vision of the founding members of restoring the one room school and for it to continue to be used as a school goes on today.  Children on Field trips experience School 1902 style with lessons in reading writing and arith
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Log Cabin Museum in the Park

4/19/2020

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               The log cabin in the park  provides a glimpse of life in the olden days!
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Malone Chapel

4/6/2020

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               Malone Chapel in the park is a replica of 1902 Mt. Pleasant Church

​In 1887 Semmes log cabin school was located on the townships sixteenth section of land which was required by law to be set aside for schools. Highway AL42 now known as U.S. Hwy 98 connecting Mobile to Mississippi ran thru the center of this section. It was the custom in early pioneer days in Alabama for schools to be the center of activity of the community.  Church was often held in the school.  Mt Pleasant Baptist Church began in the log cabin school.
 
 
 As the community population grew the church grew and service moved to various locations.  The first move was in the place of Mrs. Turner Strike off of the G M & O railroad.
The next move was 1.2 miles northeast of the original location. In those days land was so plentiful that when people wanted to build a church they picked out the land and began to build without finding out if someone owned the land.    A couple from the north came down and laid claim to the property. This was around 1900.


 Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Harroun had moved here by this time and invited the church to meet in their barn.  After meeting for a time in the barn, the church began to look for other locations.

Thomas Jefferson Howell, a local lumber baron came to the rescue of the need for a new school and new church buildings by donating one acre of land with the stipulation that a new school was to be built on ½ acre and a church on ½ acre.  This land was located close to the new center of town which was the railroad and is the location of Semmes Heritage Park today. 


Malone chapel is a replica of Mount Pleasant Baptist that has the original bell in the belfry. The inside of church looks as it did in 1902 except it has electricity, modern restrooms, and central heat and air and is available to rent for weddings and other events.

Please Note!
Mt. Pleasant Church was renamed in 1904 to Semmes First Baptist. The church moved once again in 1930 to its present location.  
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Semmes one room school - Saved from Destruction Twice

2/28/2020

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First Time
Lawrence Malone was principal at Semmes School from 1948-1952.  His wife Neil Malone was a teacher at the school during those years.  

During Lawrence Malone time as principal a move was made by the Mobile County School Board to tear down the old Semmes One-Room Schoolhouse as new more modern buildings were added.  Dr. Malone interceded with the School Board and was successful in persuading them to allow the building to remain a part of the Semmes Campus. It remained in service serving as a classroom, counselor office and the Library until 1992.

Saved from destruction the second time!  

In January 1994 Robin Wulff was at the school board office and overhear that the one room Semmes school was going to be renovated or torn down. She immediately alerted Elizabeth Dodd.

Mrs. Dodd called Julane Greenlee and Rita Durant and together they went to see Mrs. Katherine Montgomery, the principal of Semmes School to present the idea of preserving the one room school. Mrs. Montgomery was very receptive, and encouraging.

Theodore had recently restored an early school, so Julane and Mrs. Dodd made an appointment with Carolyn Dumas and Kathy Nelson, who had led the restoration at Theodore school.  They gave us a tour, copies of their corporation history and grant applications.
 
Marion Howell and Mrs. Dodd went to the Courthouse to research the original deed and found the deed in Book 102, Page 179 and obtained a copy of the deed. The deed revealed that In 1902 Thomas Jefferson Howell donated to the Mobile Co. Public School Board one-half acre of land to build a new school and one half acre to build a new church to sit beside the school. 

 Bobby Nelson, who was in charge of new school board construction, Mark      McDonald, Director of the Mobile Historic Development Commission were contacted and asked to inspect the school to see if might be restored. " We were assured our little treasurer was well worthy of the efforts of restoration." said Elizabeth Dodd.

Julane Geenlee contacted Jay Grelan, who wrote an article on May 13, 1994 in the Mobile Press on our historic school house announcing  a meeting  May 22, 1994 to form a committee for the purpose of preserving the little  school house.

On May 22, 1994, a group of sixty-seven citizens and former students of Semmes School met together in the Semmes School cafeteria.  Donations were collected in the amount of $370.00.  

May 25, 1994 an organizational meeting was held in the Semmes School Cafeteria and the name of Alumni & Friends of Semmes School was chosen. Officers elected were President Jospeh E. Shumock, Vice-President Norville H. Couey, Treasurer- Mary Waters Hopkins, Secretary Kathryn K. Shumock, and Corresponding Secretary Linda Hudson Davis. Board of Directors were Joe Shoemock, Mildred Wiggins, Sara Wilson,
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On July 18, 1994 Alumni & Friends of Semmes School was incorporated as a 501 © 3 not for profit organization. August 25, 1994 the school was  declared an Alabama Historical Landmark, as the oldest continuous in use school in Alabama.

In 1917 the school had been  moved from its original site across the road to sit besides the new stucco building.  Allentown School, Morris Hill (Crawford) & Powelltown schools were consolidated into Semmes School in 1917.
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The schoolhouse was donated by the Mobile County Public School System to Alumni & Friends of Semmes School, Inc. and returned to its original location in 1998. Restoration was completed in 1999 and a dedication ceremony took place May 5, 2001.

 Source-Interview with Elizabeth P.( Lib) Dodd before her death on  February 1,2018
  
jlb
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Heritage Video PRESENTATIONS

2/18/2020

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In case you missed it, please see!

http://vimeo.com/281942738   “The History of Semmes Heritage Park” 
 http:// vimeo.com/221413870   “The Semmes Heritage Park”

Coming Soon! Semmes Scrapbook of Memories 2020 
Advance Purchases available now $20 -Sale Price $25
The book is an updated book of the  original Scrapbook of Memories,  the history of Semmes by the people of Semmes looking at the past, present, and future!

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2020 Camellia Festival Was a great success!

2/15/2020

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​The Semmes Camellia Festival that was reborn in January 2013 continues to be a celebration to honor Semmes Nursery History and still is an elegant affair as it was when it began in 1949.
The festival program included the following:
  • Table after table of displays of individual Camellia blooms.
  • Camellia tablescapes with themes from elegant to whimsical.
  • Camellias in art included camellia prints by Lila Moore Keen, Lilleroy & Boch camellia plates, camellia painting by local artists, camellia photos and the art of waxing camellias where one could wax a camellia for preservation.
  • Media displays on Semmes Nursery History.
  • Guest speaker- Maarten Van der Glessen “History of the Camellia Nurseries in Semmes. “
  • Open House at Semmes Heritage Park.
Refreshments were provided by the Semmes Woman’s Club.
“A picture is worth a thousand words. “ 
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